Process of stiffening the toes and heels of footwear.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL LIEBMANN. 0F OFFENBACH-ON-THE-MAIN, GrERIVIJIYYg PROCESS FORSTIFFENING THE TOES AND HEELS OF FOOTWEAR.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL LIEBMANN, subject of the German Emperor,residing in Of fenbach-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany,manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProcesses for Stiffening the Toes and Heels of Footwear, for whichapplication has been made in Great Britain, dated June 1, 1907; inAustria, dated May 31, 1907; in I-Iungary, dated June 13, 1907 in Italy,dated June 15, 190g, and in Switzerland, dated June 10, 190

This invention relates to a method of making stiffeners for footwear ofall kinds, and consists in spreading leather dust, which is produced inlarge quant-ities as waste in shoe making by the grinding of the solesand heels, mixed with a suitable adhesive, between several suitablyshaped pieces of fabric and then beating the whole with the up erleather upon the last. Toe and heel sti eners formed by this method arevery cheap as their main constituent is a waste product which ispractically valueless.

In the drawing I show a vertical sectional View of a portion of a shoeand last therein, illustrating the stiifening material in po sition.

In said drawing a is the shoe last; b the upper; c the lining; 0l acanvas insertion, and e the stiffening substance spread thereon; and fis the sole.

The stiffeners are made as follows -The leather dust is iirst worked upthoroughly with a suitable adhesive, such for instance as cellulosesolutions, chrome glue and the like, so that a viscous or tough mass isformed. This is spread on a suitably cutout piece of fabric which may bepreferably previously sewed on the part of the upper which is to bestifened. A further piece of fabric is then laid thereon and the wholeis allowed to dry a little, after which it is beaten over the last inthe ordinary manner simultaneously with the upper leather, on which lastit is fully dried and thereby imparts to the boot the form of the lastbetter than any other stifener is adapted to do. Further layers of thesubstance and the fabric may be alternately applied and placed asdesired, before the drying on the upperlayer Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed May 28, 1908.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

serial No. 435,492.

of material. If the toe and heel stilfeners are to remain soft andelastic the substance may be prevented from fully hardening for instanceby the addition of glycerin or suitable oils. If on the other hand quitehard stiff stiffeners are to be produced a suitable stiffening mediumsuch for instance as chalk sludge or heavy spar is added to the stift'-ener. I-Iereby the improved stiifener becomes very stiff withoutbecoming brittle.

The proportions of the different ingredients may be varied, but Ipreferably use 24: parts of Celluloid, 60 parts of a solvent such asacetone, 7 to 20 parts of leather dust (according to requirements andthe stiffness and strength desired) 6 parts of chalk, and 3 parts ofshellac.

Of course in place of leather dust, wood dust, cellulose, sawdust andother like pulverulent waste material may be employed.

I declare that what I claim is 1. The hereindescribed process ofstiftening the toe and heel of footwear which consists in spreading amixture comprising essentially leather dust and an adhesive upon asuitablyshaped piece of fabric, laying thereon a second piece of fabric,then allowing the layers of fabric and mixture to dry slightly, thenbeating the whole over a last simultaneously with the upper leather toimpart to the footwear the form of the last, and then allowing thestiifening layers and mixture to dry while on the last.

2. The hereindescribed process of stiifening the toe and heel offootwear which consists in spreading a mixture comprising leather dust,an adhesive, and shellac upon a suitably-shaped piece of fabric, layingthereon a second piece of fabric, then allowing the layers of fabric andmixture to dry slightly, then beating the whole over a lastsimultaneously with the upper leather to impart to the footwear the formof the last, and then allowing the stiffening layers and mixture to drywhile on the last.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 18th day ofMay 1908, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL LIEBMANN.

Witnesses:

KARL NOEL, A. WITTWER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe rrCommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

